History Recap / SmallvilleS07E16Descent

Written by Holly Henderson & Don Whitehead

Directed by Ken Horton

** Gina tries to silence Lois, Jimmy and Chloe for having an incriminating photo of the moment of Lionel's death - then Gina sees Clark exhibit his powers, only for someone else to silence her. [[HeKnowsTooMuch It's implied that her knowing Lex killed Lionel may have something to do with it...]]

-->'''Clark''': Another person who treated me like a son and died because of it.
-->'''Chloe''': Clark...
-->'''Clark''': [[MosesInTheBulrushes Jor-El died getting me on that ship.]] [[HeroicRROD My dad died of a heart attack from the powers he took on protecting me.]] [[SecretKeeper And now Lionel's been murdered for protecting my secret.]]
-->'''Chloe''': [[HeroicSacrifice They did die for you, Clark. But ultimately, they died for all of us.]] There was a reason those men were in your life: Each of them added something to the man that you are today.

-->'''Lex''': [[SarcasmMode Of course, everyone can trust Clark Kent! You're the perfect son!]] So, so why did Jonathan Kent always seemed so stressed? I mean, was raising the perfect son really that much work? I wonder the strain it must've put on his heart.
-->'''Clark''': Are you blaming me for my dad's death? Are you?! You're the guilty one, Lex, not me!

-->'''Clark''': I tried to be your friend, Lex, but all you care about is power and [[ControlFreak control]].
-->'''Lex''': [[SuddenlyShouting This is Smallville!]] Meteor freaks, alien ships, cryptic symbols! These threats are real! [[KnightTemplar Someone had to take control! Someone has to protect the world!]]

-->'''Lex''':(''to his father'') I was raised in your shadow. Now, you're gonna die in mine.

-->'''Lionel''': (''recording'') In my lifetime, I've known many famous and powerful men--presidents, sultans, kings. And [[{{Pride}} I believed that I was superior to them all]]. But I've come to know the truth, Kal-El: My greatest accomplishment is that I have dedicated myself to protecting your life and serving you. For that, I am grateful. But if you are reading this, it means that I cannot protect you any longer from a terrible truth. Two lockets exist, two. Each one has its own key. These keys, used together, unlock the secret of controlling you. You must find the keys, Kal-El, or your destiny will fall into the hands of another man. You must save yourself.

* DramaticIrony: In Season 1's "Reaper," Lex remarked that kings would come to Lionel's funeral. In this episode, the only people attending Lionel's funeral are [[AntagonisticOffspring Lex]] and [[LikeASonToMe Clark]].

-->'''Clark''': [[MosesInTheBullrushes Jor-El died getting me on that ship.]] [[HeroicRROD My dad died of a heart attack from the powers he took on protecting me.]] [[SecretKeeper And now Lionel's been murdered for protecting my secret.]]

* DeathBySecretIdentity: Lex's assistant Gina is murdered by an unknown assailant after she learns that Clark is the Traveler.

* DueToTheDead: Clark defies Lex's wishes ([[EvilIsPetty Lex forbade anyone else from attending Lionel's funeral]]) and shows up at Lionel's funeral to pay his final respects. After Lex just smirks at him and walks off, Clark sprinkles a handful of dirt onto Lionel's coffin and utters "Thank you."

-->'''Lex''': Of course, everyone can trust Clark Kent! You're the perfect son! So, so why did Jonathan Kent always seemed so stressed? I mean, was raising the perfect son really that much work? I wonder the strain it must've put on his heart.

* VideoWill: Clark finds a Kryptonian device that contains a recording made by Lionel before he died.

Written by Holly Henderson and Don Whitehead

* FaceDeathWithDignity / ObiWanMoment: Lionel remains perfectly calm as he plummets to his death.

-->'''Clark''': Another man [[LikeASonToMe who treated me like a son]] and died because of it.

-->'''Clark''': [[MosesInTheBullrushes Jor-El died getting me on that ship]]. My dad [[HeroicRROD died of a heart attack from the powers he took on protecting me]]. And now Lionel's been murdered [[SecretKeeper protecting my secret]].
-->'''Chloe''': You're right, Clark. They did die for you. But ultimately, they died for all of us. Each of those men were in your life for a reason. Each of them contributed something to the man you are today.
* ItHasBeenAnHonor: In his VideoWill for Clark, Lionel notes that his greatest honor has been to serve and protect Clark.

* RedemptionEqualsDeath: Right before his demise, Lionel, who's admittedly done highly questionable things both in the recent and distant past, refuses to reveal Clark's secret to Lex.

-->'''Lionel''': (''recording'') In my lifetime, I have known many powerful men--presidents, sultans, kings--and I believed I was superior to them all. But I've come to know the truth, Kal-El. My greatest honor has been to serve and protect you.

* DestinationDefenestration: Downplayed. Lex shoots out a window behind Lionel, then pushes his father out of it.

* DueToTheDead: Clark defies Lex's wishes ([[EvilIsPetty Lex forbade anyone else from attending Lionel's funeral]]) and shows up at Lionel's funeral. After Lex smirks at him and walks off, Clark sprinkles some dirt onto Lionel's coffin and utters "Thank you."
* FaceDeathWithDignity: Lionel remains perfectly calm as he plummets to his death.

* HeroicSacrifice: True, Lionel doesn't go out in a blaze of glory, but in his final moments, he remains firm in his loyalty to Clark and refuses to divulge Clark's secret to Lex, who sends the elder Luthor falling to his death for his trouble. Chloe even notes in the final act that Lionel not only died for Clark, but for all of humanity.
* ItsAllMyFault: Clark's response to how all the father figures in his life (Jor-El, Jonathan, and now Lionel) died protecting his secret.
-->'''Clark''': Another man who treated me like a son and died because of it.

-->'''Clark''': Jor-El died getting me on that ship. My dad died of a heart attack from the powers he took on protecting me. And now Lionel's been murdered protecting my secret.

* ItHasBeenAnHonor: In his pre-mortem message for Clark, Lionel notes that his greatest honor has been to serve and protect Clark.

-->'''Lex''': [[SuddenlyShouting This is Smallville!]] Meteor freaks, alien ships, cryptic symbols! These threats are real! Someone had to take control! Someone has to protect the world!

* DramaticIrony: In Season 1's "Reaper," Lex remarked that kings would come to Lionel's funeral after he died. In this episode, the only people attending Lionel's funeral are Lex and Clark.
* DueToTheDead: Clark defies Lex's wishes (Lex forbade anyone else from attending Lionel's funeral) and shows up at Lionel's funeral. After Lex smirks at him and walks off, Clark sprinkles some dirt onto Lionel's coffin and utters "Thank you."

* ItHasBeenAnHonor: In his pre-mortem message for Clark, Lionel notes his greatest honor has been to serve and protect Clark.

* LonelyFuneral: Lex forbids anyone else from attending Lionel's funeral. Not that that stops Clark from coming to pay his final respects.

Lex confronts Lionel about the Veritas Society and demands to know the true identity of the Traveler; when Lionel refuses, Lex murders him.

* DestinationDefenestration: Downplayed. Lex shoots out a window behind Lionel, then pushes Lionel out of it.
* DueToTheDead: Clark defies Lex (who forbade anyone else from attending Lionel's funeral) and shows up at Lionel's funeral. After Lex smirks at him and walks off, Clark sprinkles some dirt onto Lionel's coffin and utters "Thank you."
* FaceDeathWithDignity: As he plummets to his death, Lionel remains perfectly calm.

* HeroicSacrifice: True, Lionel doesn't go out in a blaze of glory, but in his final moments, he remains firm in his loyalty to Clark and refuses to divulge Clark's secret to Lex, who sends the elder Luthor falling to his death for his trouble. Chloe even notes in the final act that Lionel not only died for Clark, but for all of humankind.

* KickTheDog: While he and Clark are arguing about their fathers, Lex mockingly wonders why Jonathan always seemed so stressed and implies that Clark was responsible for his father's fatal heart attack. Clark is NOT amused.

* RedemptionEqualsDeath: Right before his demise, Lionel, who's admittedly done highly questionable things recently, refuses to reveal Clark's secret to Lex.

* CharacterDeath: Lionel Luthor
* DestinationDefenestration: Downplayed. Lex shoots out a window, then pushes Lionel out of it.

* RedemptionEqualsDeath: Right before his demise, Lionel refuses to reveal Clark's secret to Lex.

* VirtueIsWeakness: Right before he kills his "good" part Alexander (who represents the scruples and virtues he still has), Lex remarks "You make me weak."

* RedemptionEqualsDeath: Right before his demise, Lionel refuses to divulge Clark's secret to Lex.

* KillItWithFire: [[spoiler:Lex "kills" his "good" side Alexander by pushing him into the fireplace.]]

* WouldHurtAChild: [[spoiler:In the final act, Lex mentally purges himself of his "good" side by pushing Alexander, his younger self, into the fireplace.]]

* FaceDeathWithDignity: As he falls to his death, Lionel remains perfectly calm.
* FaceHeelTurn: [[spoiler:This episode showcases the completion of Lex's turn to darkness, culminating with Lex mentally killing Alexander, his "good" side.]]

* KillItWithFire: [[spoiler:How Lex kills his "good" side Alexander.]]

* CharacterDeath: Lionel

* SelfMadeOrphan: Lex murders Lionel.